JP5380651B2 - Food waste disposer having a dishwasher inlet and method for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

  This application claims the priority of US Provisional Application No. 60 / 934,025 for “Dishwasher Inlet” filed June 8, 2007. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

  The present disclosure relates to food waste disposers.

  The statements in this paragraph provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not constitute prior art.

  Food waste disposers are known in the art and are described in US Pat. No. 6,007,006 for “Food Waste Disposer” and “Grinding Machinery for a Food Waste Disposer and Method of Manufacturing”. There is a food waste disposer disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,439,487, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

  FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross section of a typical food waste disposer 100. The disposer uses a mounting member of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,025,007 (owned by the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) under the sink. It may be attached in a known manner to the water tube opening. The disposer includes an upper food conveyance unit 112, a lower motor unit 114, and a central crushing unit 116 disposed between the food conveyance unit 112 and the motor unit 114. The food transport 112 includes an injection molded plastic housing 118 that forms an inlet 120 at its upper end for containing food waste and water. The housing 118 also forms a dishwasher inlet 121 for the passage of water discharged from a dishwasher (not shown). As used herein, “dishwasher inlet” means that the outlet of the dishwasher can be coupled by a hose or the like so that waste discharged from the dishwasher can flow into the food waste disposer. A member such as a fixture that provides a fluid passageway to the food waste disposer. The food transport unit 112 transports food waste to the central crushing unit 116. The motor unit 114 includes an induction motor 122 that imparts rotational motion to the motor shaft 124. The motor 122 includes a stamped metal upper end frame 128, a stamped metal lower end frame 130, and a bent metal stator band 132 extending between the upper end frame 128 and the lower end frame 130. It is placed inside the motor housing 126.

  The crushing section 116 includes a crushing mechanism having a circular crush plate or disk 134, a pair of protrusions 136 and a stationary shredder ring 138. The plate 134 is attached to the motor shaft 124 of the motor unit 114 and is rotated by the motor shaft 124. The protrusion 136 is fixed to the plate 134, but is rotatable with respect to the plate 134. The crushing part 116 includes an injection-molded plastic housing 140 formed integrally with the injection-molded upper housing 118 of the food transport part 112. The integrated injection molded plastic housings 118 and 140 form an integral plastic enclosure. The enclosure is secured to the lower end frame 130 by a plurality of bolts 141 having self-tapping threads.

  A sealant bead 143 is applied between the housing 140 and the top frame 128 to prevent food waste from leaking. The sealant bead 143 preferably fills any gap between the housing 140 and the top frame 128, and is a tacky malleable that mitigates any irregularities that may be placed on opposite sides of the housing 140 and the top frame 128. Constructed from a functional material. Some suitable malleable materials for sealant bead 143 include butyl sealant, silicone sealant, and epoxy.

  The housing 140 of the crushing part 116 surrounds the crushing mechanism. The shredder ring 138 includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth 142, is attached to be secured to the inner surface of the housing 140 by an interference fit, and is preferably constructed from galvanized steel. Since the housing 140 is made of injection molded plastic rather than die cast metal, the housing 140 is resistant to corrosion from the shredder ring 138. In the operation of the food waste disposer, the food waste delivered to the grinding unit 116 by the food transport unit 112 is pressed against the teeth 142 of the shredder ring 138 by the protrusion 136 on the plate 134. The sharp edges of the teeth 142 grind or particulate material that is small enough to allow food waste to pass from the top of the board 134 to the bottom of the board 134 through the gap between the teeth 142 to the outside of the periphery of the board 134. Crush. Due to gravity, particulate matter that passes through the gaps between the teeth 142 falls onto the top frame 128 and, together with water injected into the disposer 100 via the inlet 120, from the outlet outlet 144 to the outlet pipe 146. To be discharged. In order to direct the particulate matter and water mixture to the discharge outlet 144, the upper end frame 128 is inclined downward toward its periphery.

  The discharge outlet 144 is formed by the plastic housing 140 and has a threaded outer surface. The threaded outer surface of the discharge outlet 144 allows the discharge pipe 146 to be connected to the discharge outlet 144 using a ready-made piping nut 148.

  The punched metal upper end frame 128 separates the crushing part 116 from the motor 122. To promote concentricity of the motor shaft 124 relative to the stator band 132 and concentricity of the plate 134 relative to the shredder ring 138, the peripheral lip of the upper end frame 128 is secured between the plastic housing 140 and the stator band 132. The top frame 128 dissipates the heat generated by the motor 122, prevents particulate matter and water from contacting the motor 122, and directs the particulate matter and water mixture to the outlet 144.

  To align the motor shaft 124 with respect to the stator band 132 and at the same time allow rotation of the motor shaft 124 relative to the upper end frame 128, the upper end frame 128 has a central bearing pocket that supports a powder metal spherical bearing 152. 150 is formed. A spherical bearing 152 surrounds the motor shaft 124 and is held in the bearing pocket 150 by a steel bearing retainer 154. A thrust washer 156 surrounds the motor shaft 124 and is positioned directly above the spherical bearing 152 to evenly distribute the downward load generated by the grinding mechanism on the bearing 152. A steel sleeve 158 surrounds the motor shaft 124, is positioned directly above the thrust washer 156, and is surrounded by a spring biased rubber seal 160. Finally, the steel sleeve 158 is covered by a steel cap 162 to prevent debris from entering.

Injection molded plastic housings 118 and 140 are constructed from a plastic material that exhibits impact resistance, heat resistance and corrosion resistance. Some suitable plastic materials for the housing include acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester and polyphenylene sulfide. Housing 118 and 140 preferably have a wall thickness ranging from about 0.305cm (about 0.120 inches) to about 0.406cm (about 0.160 inches). In a preferred embodiment, the housing 118 and 140 has a wall thickness of about 0.356cm (about 0.140 inches). To enhance the structural rigidity of the housing 140, the housing 140 may include a plurality of reinforcing ribs (not shown).

The top frame 128 is preferably stamped so that the heat generated by the motor 122 can be conducted to the water flowing through the disposer and is rigid enough to withstand the downward loading forces applied by the plate 134 of the grinding mechanism. Constructed from processed metal. Some suitable metals include double-sided galvanized cold rolled steel, cold rolled steel, stainless steel, and other types of steel. Alternatively, the top frame 128 may be constructed from a structurally rigid plastic material that can dissipate the heat generated by the motor 122. When composed of stamped metal, preferably the upper end frame 128, a thickness of about 0.102 cm (about 0.040 inches) in the range of about 0.152cm (about 0.060 inches) Has a wall thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the upper end frame 128 is composed of double-sided galvanized cold-rolled steel, having a wall thickness of about 0.119cm (about 0.047 inches).

  The dishwasher inlet 121 extends laterally into the crushing chamber 164 of the disposer body in order to pass tests by certain institutions included in the ASSE 1008. The grinding chamber 164 is defined by the housings 118 and 140. Accreditation bodies such as ASSE and UL specifically require that the disposer pass the pumping test before it is marketed. The pumping test can usually be passed if the dishwasher inlet reaches the grinding chamber.

  In a disposer having a prior art dishwasher inlet 121, the dishwasher inlet including a portion reaching the grinding chamber 164 is integrally formed as part of the housing 118. This dishwasher inlet structure creates problems in the formation of anti-vibration mounts that food waste disposers often have. The anti-vibration mount is an annular mount molded from an elastic material around the inlet 120 of the housing 118. An example of such an anti-vibration mount is disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,021,574, entitled “Overmolded Vibration Isolation Gasket for Mounting Food Waste Disposer to Sink”, issued April 4, 2006. The entire disclosure of this patent is hereby incorporated by reference.

  In some cases, the anti-vibration mount is formed from the inside of the grinding chamber. Due to the presence of the dishwasher inlet part in the grinding chamber, the mold does not reach certain parts of the anti-vibration mount, thereby increasing the complexity of the anti-vibration mount molding. Furthermore, the presence of the dishwasher inlet inside the grinding chamber also creates problems in the molding of the disposer body.

  The food waste disposer has a central crushing unit disposed between the food transport unit, the motor unit, and the food transport unit. The motor unit includes a motor having a motor shaft coupled to a rotatable plate of the crushing mechanism in the crushing unit. An anti-vibration mount is disposed around the entrance of the food transport. The food transport includes a plastic molded housing having a dishwasher inlet having an outer portion extending outwardly from the housing and an inner portion reaching the housing that is removably received in the housing.

  In one aspect, the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet is slidably received on the inner wall of the housing, and the inner wall of the housing is on both sides of the opening that houses the tongues on both sides of the body of the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet. Includes a groove. The inner and outer portions of the dishwasher inlet have passages connected by openings in the housing when the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet is in place.

  In one aspect, the inner wall of the housing has a tongue and the body of the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet has a groove.

  In one aspect, the anti-vibration mount is molded around the inlet of the housing, and after the anti-vibration mount is molded, the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet is inserted into the housing and secured in place.

  In one aspect, a stationary grinding ring holds the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet in place.

  In one aspect, the tongue and groove have an interference fit to hold the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet in place.

  Further areas of availability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

  The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

1 is a cross section of a typical prior art food waste disposer. 2 is a cross section of a food waste disposer having a dishwasher inlet according to aspects of the present disclosure. 3 is a partial cross section of the food waste disposer of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an inner part of the dishwasher inlet of the disposer of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the inner part of the food waste disposer of FIG.

  The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals refer to similar or corresponding parts and features.

  Referring to FIG. 2, a food waste disposer 200 having a dishwasher inlet 202 according to an aspect of the present disclosure is described. The dishwasher inlet 202 includes an outer portion 204 and an inner portion 206, each having a passage therein connected by an opening 205 in the housing 118. The outer portion 204 may include, as illustrated, a tubular fitting that projects outwardly from the housing 118 and has a hose (not shown) coupled from the dishwasher outlet. The inner portion 206 may include a tubular portion that protrudes from the opening 205 (FIG. 3) to the inside of the grinding chamber 164 as illustrated.

  Outer portion 204 and inner portion 206 are separate pieces, and inner portion 206 is a separate piece from housing 118. The outer portion 204 may be molded integrally with the housing 118 as illustrated when the housing 118 is molded, or may be individually secured to the housing 118. Inner portion 206 may be a molded plastic part as illustrated. Inner portion 206 may be a slide-in component as illustrated, as described below.

  As best seen in FIG. 4, the inner wall 208 of the housing 118 is one adjacent the opening 205 in the housing 118 that engages a corresponding feature in the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202, as described below. Including the above features. These features of the housing 118 are grooves 210 facing the sides of the opening 205 in the housing 118 as illustrated and may be formed as illustrated when the housing 118 is molded. The inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 extends from both sides of the body 212 at a generally tubular body 212 having an outlet 214 at the inner end 216 and at the outer end 219 of the feature, and on the inner wall 208 of the housing 118. And an illustratively opposed tongue 218 that engages the feature.

  After the housing 118 and anti-vibration mount 220 molded near the entrance 120 of the housing 118 are formed, the inner portion 206 is inserted into the housing 118 and secured in place. As illustrated, the tongue 218 of the inner portion 206 is inserted and slid into the groove 210 of the housing 118 of the disposer 200 to attach the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 to the housing 118 inside the grinding chamber 164. The

  Referring to FIG. 5, when the stationary grinding ring 500 is attached to the inner wall 208 of the housing 118, the upper end 502 of the stationary grinding ring 500 abuts the lower end 504 of the tongue 218 of the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202. (When the food waste disposer 200 is upright), thereby holding the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 in place. When the stationary grinding ring 500 is removed, the tongue 218 of the inner portion 206 can easily fall out of the groove 210 of the housing 118 body. This tongue and groove design simplifies attachment of the inner portion 206 to the disposer body and removal of the inner portion 206 from the disposer body. Alternatively, the tongue of the inner portion 206 and the groove of the housing 118 are configured such that the tongue 218 is an interference fit within the groove 210 and is held in place without the aid of the stationary grinding ring 500. Can.

  It should be understood that the housing 118 may have a tongue and the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet may have a groove. In one aspect, the tongue 218 of the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 is frictionally applied over the tongue 218 and groove 210 such as detents, mechanical fasteners, adhesives, welding or other conventional fastening methods. It may be fixed in the groove 210 of the housing 118 by fixing features formed therein. Alternatively, the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 can be joined to the housing 118 by spin welding or other conventional fastening methods without the use of tongue and groove designs.

  With particular reference to FIG. 3, the molding of the housing 118 of the anti-vibration mount 220 and the body of the disposer 200 extends to the housing 118 by using separate slide-in components for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202. Any portion of the dishwasher inlet 202 can be done in this manner without interfering with the molding process. Accordingly, the housing 118 of the main body of the disposer 200 and the molding tool for blocking overmolding can be greatly simplified, and the molding process of the vibration preventing mount 220 and the main body housing 118 of the disposer 200 can be facilitated. . The anti-vibration mount 220 is constant and symmetrical because the forming tool can access the entire part of the anti-vibration mount 220 without being disturbed by the dishwasher inlet 202, as indicated by the reference arrow 222. Can be shaped to have an annular geometry.

  In designing a disposer component, different parts of the disposer are exposed to different requirements such as wear, impact, chemical exposure and the like. By using separate slide-in components for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202, various materials are used for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 and the components of the disposer 200 adjacent to the inner portion 206. Can be adjusted for improved durability, sound performance and cost. The use of a separate slide-in component for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 allows the use of materials that are optimized for a particular purpose without compromising material selection for adjacent parts. .

  The use of a separate slide-in component for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 also facilitates the disposer 200 to pass tests by certain agencies included in the ASSE 1008, and the plastic on the wall of the housing 118. Protect the dishwasher entrance knockout from damage.

  Using separate slide-in components for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 is more durable without having to mold the entire housing body of the disposer 200 or the entire housing 118, 140 of the disposer 200 from more expensive materials. Which allows the use of more expensive and expensive materials.

  Using a separate slide-in component for the inner portion 206 of the dishwasher inlet 202 allows the use of different dishwasher inlet designs for a given housing 118 of the disposer 200 to accommodate different grinding mechanisms. To do. This leads to a cost-effective approach to meet customer requirements.

  Although the food waste disposer 200 is shown in the drawings as being substantially similar to the food waste disposer 200 of FIG. 1, the main difference is the dishwasher inlet having a removable inner portion 206, which is removed. A dishwasher inlet with a possible inner part 206 is useful in any food waste disposer having a dishwasher inlet, in particular a housing with an inner part 206 having an anti-vibration mount molded around the inlet of the housing. It should be understood.

Claims (10)

A food waste disposer,
It is equipped with a central crushing unit that is placed between the food transport unit, motor unit, and food transport unit .
The motor unit includes a motor having a motor shaft coupled to a rotatable plate of the crushing mechanism in the crushing unit;
A food transport includes a housing having a dishwasher inlet having an outer portion extending outwardly from the housing and an inner portion reaching the housing that is removably received in the housing, the inner and outer portions being the inner A food waste disposer having a passage connected by an opening in the housing when the part is in place in the housing.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a feature disposed adjacent to an opening in the housing that engages a corresponding feature of the interior portion of the dishwasher inlet.   The housing features include a housing with grooves on both sides of the opening, the features on the inner part of the dishwasher inlet include tongues on both sides of the body of the inner part, and the tongue slides into the grooves The device of claim 2, wherein the device is accommodated.   The grinding section includes a stationary grinding ring that abuts the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet when the dishwasher inlet is received in the housing, the stationary grinding ring holding the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet in place; The apparatus of claim 3.   4. The device of claim 3, wherein the tongue is an interference fit within the groove.   The housing features include a housing having tongues on both sides of the opening, the features on the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet include grooves on both sides of the body of the inner portion, and the tongue slides into the grooves The device of claim 2, wherein the device is accommodated.   The grinding section includes a stationary grinding ring that abuts the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet when the dishwasher inlet is received in the housing, the stationary grinding ring holding the inner portion of the dishwasher inlet in place; The apparatus according to claim 6.   The device of claim 6, wherein the tongue is an interference fit in the groove.   The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is a molded plastic housing that includes the outer portion of the dishwasher inlet as an integral part thereof.   The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an anti-vibration mount disposed around the entrance of the food transport.

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